Willis h



(No Model.)

W. H. BELKNAP.

LAMP SHADE.

No. 321,942. Patented July 14, 1885 m; x. wh-

[aw/22W N. PETERS. Phomuxha m ner. walhingwm D. C.

. lhvrrnn TATES ArnNr tries.

\VILLIS H. BELKNAP, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

LAMP-SHADE.

SPECIFICATIQN tanning part. of Letters Patent No. 321,91-2, dated July 14, 1835.

(Nu model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l,WILLIs H. BELKNAP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Shades,ofwhich the following is a specification.

The lampshade forming the subject of this invention is adapted to be closed or folded, so as to occupy but little space when not in use, and when open and applied to a lamp to possess an ornamental and unique appearance and it consists of light metal rings, by which it is supported in position on a lamp, a light metal frame-work of ribs and connecting-bars pivoted to the light metal rings, and a cover ing of fibrous or other suitable material. The inner ends of the ribs of the frame-work are pivoted to the edge of the upper ring, and to the ribs are hinged the supportingbars, which are also pivoted to the edge of the lower ring. These supporting-bars are made very short, so as not to detract from the appearance of the shade when open and in use, and to interfere as little as possible with the reflection of light rays from the lamp, and the short bars, in conjunction with the covering which is secured to the ribs, imparts to the shade a nearly flat or conical form. The shade is opened out ready for use by passing a cylindrical part of the lower ring through the upper ring, and securing the rings together by any suitable means, but for which purpose I prefer to employ a detachable ring adapted to be secured to the cylindrical part of the lower ring by means of a screw-thread or other simple device, and to act as a finishing cap piece tor the shade. The shade is closed by removing the detachable ring or cap-piece, and then moving the upper and lower rings apart, which brings the ends of the ribs together in a similar manner to the closing of an umbrella and when in this shape the detachable ring, by being slipped over the ends of the ribs and covering, holds them together and imparts a finish to the ornamental appearance of the closed shade, when it is set upright in reverse position, resting on the upper ring as a base.

But to describe my invention more particularly, I will now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of my improved lamp-shade in open position. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same closed or folded. Fig. 3 is a central sectional elevation showing modifications in construction. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 5 is a central sectional elevation of another modification in construction.

The upper ring, a, is provided with a sleeve or cylindrical part, a, which fits over the cylindrical parts I), and abuts against the flange of the lower ring, I), when the shade is open. The said cylindrical part b then projects above the upper ring, a, and is provided at its end with a screw-thread, on which fits a detachable ring or finishing cap-piece, 0, provided with a corresponding screw-thread, thereby holding the parts together in open position, as shown at Fig. 1. The radial ribs d of the frame-work are pivoted to the upper ring, a, in any suitable manner, the method used for attaching ribs to umbrella-runners being well adapted for this purpose; and to the lower ring, I), pivoted in a similar manner, the inner ends of the short supporting-bars 6, their other ends being hinged to the ribs (1 d.

The covering f may be made of any suitable light fabric, ornamented by the addition of fringe, &c., as desired. v

The application of this shade is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the dotted lines thereof representing the globe and chimney of a lamp. It is evident that the shade can be held in position by a supportingframe.

To close the shade, the cap-piece c is unscrewed from the cylindrical part b of the lower ring, I), and the ends of the ribs d d brought together by separating the rings a and I). The cap-piece 0 may then be slipped over the ends of the ribs and cover, and the shade set up on the ring a, as shown in Fig. 2, thus occupying but little space and having an or namental appearance.

The construction of the modification shown at Figs. 3and4 is substautiallythe same as that of Fig. 1, the difference being in the fastening device,which in these views consists of springs b, formed by cutting slots in the sleeve b, and bent over at their upper end, so as to catch over the upper edge of the cap-piece 0 when the parts are placed together. In Fig. 5 the cap-piece c is shown as permanently attached to the upper ring, a, and the two rings a and ICO b are held together by spring-catches a a thrown up from the sleeve a or attached thereto, arranged to pass through slots in the cylindrical part b of the ring I) when the shade is opened. W'here spring-catches are used to hold the two rings together, it will be understood that to close the shade it is only necessary to depress the springs within the parts over or into which they catch.

In Fig. 5 the shade has conical shape, and the supporting-bars c e have their inner ends above their outer ends, so that the resilience of the ribs and cover will press the rings (L I) together when the shade is open.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. As an article of manufacture, a lampshade consisting of two rings adapted to set over the lainpehimney, ribs pivoted to one of covering, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a lamp-shade, in combination, two rings adapted to set over the lamp-chimney, radial ribs pivoted to one of the rings, supporting-bars pivoted to the other ring and to the ribs, a fabric covering, and a detachable ring secured by a screw-thread to theupper part of the lower ring which projects above the upper ring when the shade is open, and set over the ribs to hold them together when the shade is closed out of use, substantially as set forth.

3. In a lamp-shade, in combination, the ring a, the ribs (Z d, pivoted thereto, the ring I), with cylindrical part I), the supporting-bars e c, pivoted to the ring I) and to the ribs d d, the detachable cap-piece c, and the covering f, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, county and State of New York, this 26th day of February, 1885.

WILLIS H. BELKNAP.

Witnesses:

ALFRED SnEDLoeK, H. D. \VILLIAMS. 

